Machine for printing on jars



April 2, 1940. D, w, KNAGGS 12,195,625

' ncnmn Fon PRINTING ou JARS Filed'July 2s, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Q Aprilv 2, 1940.

D. W. KNAGGS .I AQHINE FOR PRINTING 0N JARS 5 sheds-sheet s Filed July 28, 1937 `INVENTOR. DoNALD KNA G cvs BY QW/19M? ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940.

E E E @Wwf ATTORNEY.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 2, 1940. n. w. KNAGGS MACHINE FOR PINTING ON JARS Filed July 28, 1937 Patented Apr. 2, 1940 Nirao srras MACHINE Fon PmN'rmG oN sans Donald W. Knaggs, City Island, N. Y., assigner to c Process, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York y l Application July 28, i937, Serial No. 156,067

ticularly adapted to use in printing on a surface which is more or less uneven and generally of a curved shape.

This application is related to application Serial No. 7,344, filed February 20, 1935 by John H. Friden for a Machine for printing on bottles now Patent'No. 2,088,196, issued July 27, 193'1.

In fact, the present machine, so far as the printing press per se is'concerned, is identical with the machine described in said patent. `Reference may therefore be had to said patent for thev details of mechanical construction. Thepresent machine differs from the one described in said patent in the mechanism for feeding the Jars to printing position, holding them in position while being printed, and delivering them from the machine after having been printed. 1

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a machine which maybe used to print on glass, plastic, or metal jars;'cans,v bottles, etc., which are continuously and rapidly fed through the machine, with one or more colors, "ly the offset method of printing.

If the surface of an ordinary glass jar such as is used in commerce for a large variety of commodities such as cosmetics, for example, is examined carefully, it will be noted that the surface instead of being smooth and regular asappears from the casual inspection, is actually quite uneven and irregular. In order to print evenly on such a surface it is therefore necessary to provide means for overcoming the irregularities of the surface itself. In 'a glass jar the hardness 40 of the surface presents an .additional problem in this respect.

' A feature of my invention is the provision of means for overcoming the irregularities in a surface, particularly the surface of a cylindrical or curved object such as a jar, so that a legend or label may be printed thereon evenly, smoothly and clearly. Y

The mechanism embodying this feature of my invention comprises means for holding a :lar in resilientengagement with the transfer roller of an offset printing press, while permitting the ljar to b e -rotated during the printing operation. In a machine such as described herein the difficulty of handling jars as they are passed through the machine is naturally greater withA smaller jars (Cl. lill-40) than with larger ones. The difliculty of handling such objects is enhanced by the necessity for holding them in resilient engagement with Vthe transfer roller.

Another feature of this invention therefore is 5 the provision of means for passing jars through 'the machine rapidlyand automatically in combination with mechanism which permits them to make resilient contact with the transfer roller of the machine.

Another feature of my invention isthe provision of springs for`holding an object such as a jar in resilient engagement with the transfer roller of an offset printing press.

Another feature of my invention is the provi'- sion of resilient .means for holding the jars in engagement with the transfer roller in combination with means for rendering the transfer roller itself resilient in its engagement with a jar.

Another feature of my invention-is the provision of meansfor feeding a jar or similar object to an offset printing press in such a manner that the feeding mechanism is stopped' during the printing operation to permit the printing to be done, andthen during a portion 'of the revolution of the transfer roller of the press, operation of the feeding mechanism is resumed for removing the jar-which has been printed, and for feedingv a new jar to the printing position.

Still another feature of my invention is the provision of mechanism for intermittently feeding a succession of jars or similar objects to an offset printing press, combined with means for stopping said mechanism without damage to the mechanism or to the jars when the jars become 35 jammed, or for any other reason damage would result if the mechanism were not stopped.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of lmechanism for holding a jar positively in position on a rotating arm while said arm holds the jar in resilient rotatable engagement with thetransfer roller of an offset printing press.

A further feature of my invention is the proviv sion of means for holding a jar positively in position as just described, combined with suitable mechanism for moving said means into and out of position in timed relation with the movement of the feeding mechanism and the transfer roller of an odset printing pressy Another feature of my invention is the provision of means permitting the same printing press and feeding mechanism to be used in printing jars of a variety of sizes. u

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view partly in section of my new machine as adapted to effect single color printing on jars or similar objects;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view partly in section of my feeding turret illustrating the means whereby I hold ajar positively in position while permitting it resiliently to engage the transfer roller and to rotate while in such engagement, and further illustrating how vmy machine may be adapted to a variety of sizes of jars;

Fig. 5 is a view along the lines 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the lines 6-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 isla sectional view along the lines 1 1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the position of a jar at the time it is engaged by one of the turret arms; and V Fig. l is a plan view of the feeding turret.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout.

A suitable framework I is provided to which the apparatus of the machine is attached. A slide 2 is mounted at the front of the machine and tilted at an angle such that the jars 4 will be fed to the machine by gravity. An endless conveyor belt 3 is provided on the other side of the machine, which delivers the jars from the machine after they have been printed. The jars are fed to a position where they may be engaged by the arms 5, of a turret 6. The turret is rotated until it reaches the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, when it is momentarily stopped. vThe jar is then in a position to be positively engaged by the ball bearing 1 mounted in the end of the arm 8. The arm 8 moves to the left, Fig. 2, to the position shown in Fig. 4, positively engaging the bottom of the jar and holding it firmly in printing position on the arm 5.

As a jar is being picked up by an arm and being brought to vprinting position the transfer roller is rotated so that when the jar is in printing position the roller has come to a point where printing is to commence. The roller then engages the jar and as the jar is free to rotate, rotates the jar as the impression is printed thereon from the transfer roller. The arm 8 then. retracts to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the turret 6 rotates another step carrying the bottle that has just been printed away from printing position and towards the delivery belt 3.

An arm II,Fig. 3, is provided on which a bar I2 is mounted for sliding movement. The bar I2 terminates in the arm 8 having a ball bearing 1 molmted in the endthereof.

The motive power for the machine is. provided by a motor 28, Fig. 3, which drives the machine in the manner described in the application above referred to. As described in that application, there is a cam 42 mounted on the surface of a gear 39, which cam is engaged by a follower 43 mounted on an arm 44. The arm 44 is pivoted upon a support 45 and terminates in a fork which engages a pin 46 on connecting rod 41, which is journaled for reciprocating movement in a bushing 48. 'I'he rod 41 is secured to the bar I2 which is slidingly mounted on arm II. A spring 49 which is secured to the frame I pulls the arm`44 toward the' Aframe I and terminates downward motion to compensate machine, or upwardly in Fig. '3, whenever the follower 43 is not engaged by the cam 42.

the ball bearing 1 is therefore free to move onA and another jar may be moved in position on the next arm 5 to be engaged by the ball bearing 1. Mounted on the front of the machine are two guide plates I3 and I4. The plate I3 has a bend at one end adapted to hold one jar in4 a position to be engaged by an arm 5. As an arm 5 enters the open end of a jar, it carries the jar with it and the jar is gradually pushed on to the arm 5 by the plate I3 as the jar rises toward printing position. By the time the jar has reached the end of plate I3 it will ordinarily be properly in place on the arm 5, but in order to assure its being in exactly the right position for printing it is engaged by the ball bearing. 1 on arm 8, as heretofore described. After the jar has been printed the turret 6 moves on and the bottom of the jar engages the plate I4. As it moves down this plate it gradually moves off of the arm 5 so that when the jar leaves engagement with the plate I4 it is in such a position that it will stand upright on the belt 3 and move away from the machine on this belt in an upright position as shown in Fig. 1. The turret Sis driven in intermittent rotary motion by the gear I5 mounted on the end of shaft 55, just as the spider of the above mentioned patent was driven in rotary motion by the shaft 55 of that patent.

in a collar I1 which encloses a bearing I8 inwhich is journaled a shaft I8. Shaft I8 terminates at one end in gear 2li, which meshes with the gear I5. It is keyed to the frame of the turret 6 a nut 2i. Between the collar of the turret 6 are a ing thickness.

There are ve arms I1 and the frame plurality of shims 22 of vary- 5 mounted on the turret.

These arms are screwed onto a threaded projecf tion 23 on a supporting member 24 which is mounted for rotation within a sliding block 25. Rotation is permitted by the use of ball bearings 26, mounted between an inner race 21 and an outer race 28. The block 25 is held in position by a pair of supports and 3| which are secured by bolts 32 to the frame of the turret. The block 25 terminates at its lower extremity in a threaded rod 33, and its upward movement is limited by a nut 34. Surrounding the rod 33 is a strong spring.-

35 which is held between the enlarged upper portion of the block 25 and the lower supporting member 3|. The block 25 is therefore permitted to move downwardly against the resistance of the spring 35. When a jar is .in printing position therefore, and is engaged by the transfer roller of the press, it is held in such engagement by the spring 35, which permits a certain amount of for any irregularities in the surface of the jar.

The transfer roller of the press is also provided with a rubber blanket 36, Fig. 1, over which the printing surface is stretched with enough tension to provide a desired amount of resiliency of the surface itself due to the rubber blanket over which it is placed. The springs 35, rubber blanket 36, as well as the rubber roller itself, all contribute to produce the necessary flexibility and resiliency to overcome the unevenness of the surface of a jar.

Arm I6 is secured to theplurality ofarms 'for picking up said objects, means forlpushing said objects onto said arms,

The `machine may be adjusted for printing on jars-of various sizes. Ii a larger jar is to be substituted for the jars 4, the arms are unscrewed and arms of the correct size substituted' by screwing them in position. As these arms will be centered at the same point as the previous arms, it is clear that when in printing position the outer surface of the jars would be raised to a higher point than those previously used. In order to provide for this the nut 2l and the frame of the turret 6 are removed, and one or more of the shims 22 taken from around the shaft i9. The frame of the turret is then replaced, and the nut 2l again screwed into position. to cause the outer surface of the jar 4 to be at the same height, and therefore in the same position with respect to the platen, as the surface of the smaller jars previously printed.

A sprocket 31 is rotated by a chain, not shown, in exactly the same manner in which an identical sprocket 31'is rotated by a chain 35, as shown and described in the above mentioned patent. The sprocket v3'I, Fig. 3, is keyed to a shaft 50 which is journaled in bushing 5I mounted on a support 52. Y A disc 53 is mounted on the other end of shaft 50 and engages by friction a second disc 54 to form a friction clutch.

The disc 54 is mounted on the shaft 55 which terminates in the gear I5, which turns the turret 6. A spring 55 surrounds the shaft 50between the bushing 5I and disc 53 to provide the force necessary to maintain the friction discs53 and 54 in contact. 'I'his mechanism is identical with that shown in the above mentioned application,

It is obvious, of course, that additional colors may be supplied by providing additional impression cylinders, distribution rollers, ink supply, etc., similar to that shown in accordance -with the usual practice in the priorart.

From the above description it will be apparent thattlis invention involves certain principles of -1 Aconstruction and operation which may be embodied in other physical forms. I do not. therefore, desire to be strictly limited to this disclosure, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

-What is claimed is:

1. A printing machine comprising means for feeding to the machine objects .to be printed, an intermittently rotatable turret having a plurality of arms for picking up said objects and bringing rthem, to printing positiommeans for positively holding said objectsI in proper printing position while said turret is stopped, and resilient 'supporting means for said arms to provide the proper` printing pressure.

The turret 5 will now be lowered enough 2. A printing machine comprising means for i feeding objects to be printed to the machine, a l

and means for `resilient1y supporting said arms. 3. A printing machine comprising a transfer roller, an arm mounted in spaced relation with said roller, a turret having a plurality of projections for feeding objects to be printed into printing position, means for periodically moving said arm into engagement with th'e object to be printed while in printing position, and means for causing a resilient engagement between the object to be printed and the said roller.

4. In a printing machine, means for feeding vgenerally cylindrical objects to be printed to said machine, means for delivering objects which have been printed from said machine, means comprising av turret having a plurality of arms for picking up objects to be printed, carrying them to printing position, and then to said delivery means, and means cooperating with said turret arms for assuring that said objects be placed in upright position on said delivery means.

5. A printing machine comprising a turret, a shaft inclined to the vertical axis of the machine on which said turret is mounted, a plurality of arms on said turret adapted to engage objects of a particular. internal size, said arms being removable and replaceable with others of different size to accommodate objects of different internal dimensions and means operable to adjust said turret on said shaft to .accommodate objects of and a plurality of arms mounted on said blocks,

said arms being .of a size to fit within the articles .to be printed and to form the sole support for the articles during the printing operation.

7. A-printing machine, means for feeding objects to be printed to said machine, a turret having a plurality of arms for engaging said objects,

a plate mounted on said machine in such a posi-l tion as to push the objects onto said arms, and a second plate mounted on said machine in -such position as to permit said objects gradually to leave said arms.

8. A printing machine comprising a turret having a plurality of arms adapted to engage objects to beprinted, a shaft inclined to the vertical axis of the machine on which said turret is mounted, and means permitting'said turret to be lowered or raised on said shaft to accommodate objects of varying sizes.

9. A printing machine comprising a turret having a plurality of arms adapted'to engage generally cylindrical objects to be printed, a plate mounted on said machine in such a position as to push theobjects onto said arms, delivery mechanism, and a vsecond plate mounted on said machine in such a position as to permit said ob-I DONALD w. minces. 

